Draft proof shower curtain



Dec. 1, 1942. B. FIOUS 2,303,502

DRAFT PROOF SHOWER CURTAIN Filed Sept. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1942. ous 2,303,502

DRAFT PROOF SHOWER CURTAIN Filed Sept. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lIIIIlIlI/IIIIIIII/iil'l;

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Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFT PROOF SHOWER CURTAIN Bernard Rous, New York, N. Y. Application September 19, 1940, Serial No. 357,371 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-73) This invention relates to shower curtains and specifically to an improvement upon the structure disclosed in patent of June 7, 1938.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing a bath tub and an embodiment of the invention in position with respect thereto.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the curtain area of Figure l and the adjacent wall faces.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on the line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken generally on the line 4-4, Figure l showing the holding means for the ends of the curtain.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the weighted hem of the curtain.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view in elevation showing the form and position of a suction cup and clamp holder for the ends of the curtain, the form of the clamp being slightly modified from that shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1, Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown at l a bathtub which may be of any suitable construction. In the drawings it is shown at the corner of a bathroom, one wall of which has applied thereto a shower spray at 2. support a curtain rod 3 from which is suspended a bath curtain 4 by any suitable means, such as the loops 5.

The curtain is of a depth to provide a lower margin which hangs well below the upper edge of the tub and the length of the curtain is such that at each end it not only meets the wall at such end but continues for a short distance so as to be held abutting said wall area in a manner sealing the normal gap between the curtain and the wall against outward spray of water or inward movement of air to any substantial degree.

Unlike the curtain of the said patent, the present embodiment is formed at its lower margin with a hem 41: preferably provided with snap fasteners 5 to engage coacting fastener elements .for the purpose of forming a pocket for weights 6. If desired, these. weights may be carried within a long tubular envelope folded flat or carried by a tape as customary for weighting skirts and jackets.

A further improvement over the said patent in addition to the primary improvement later to be to Shera, No. 2,120,155

The walls their ends.

I to overhang the outer face of the tub in the manner shown in Figure 1. To this end I have shown skirt 1 attached to the main curtain body 4 by means of a slide fastener arrangement diagrammatically indicated at 8 and which will enable the removal of the skirt when the curtain is taken down for cleansing in order to lessen its bulk and enable mangle-roller pressing.

The primary improvement over the said patent comprises the means for holding the curtain at its ends firmly against the wall areas by simple means which may be retained upon the wall' areas for repeated detachable connection with the curtain ends. This means comprises a plurality of suction cups 9 adapted to be pressed into holding engagement with the wall area in the manner shown in Figure 1. To each cup is secured a spring arm In which, in turn, carries a finger-operated plural-jaw spring clamp ll,

Figure 4. In Figures 6 and 7, the clamp is slight ly modified in that one jaw I I a: of the clamp constitutes the outer end of the spring arm I01: of those figures and the movable jaw lira; is provided with a finger-piece p by which the jaw can be swung out of holding position against the tension of spring l2. In the form of Figure 4, both of the clamp jaws are movable against the tension of the spring l3.

Each end of the curtain is engaged by a vertical row of clamp members held by a corresponding row of suction cups. The end of the curtain is brought against the wall and given an inwardly directed vertical fold, as shown. in Figure 1, the fold being received between the clamping jawswhich press the fold against the adjacent wall area. In practice the clamps will be so re lated to the suction cups as to engage the curtain directly at each side of the vertical fold, although for clearness of illustration, the clamps have, in Figures 4 and 7, been moved back so as to show engagement with the fold only, and the suction cups are not shown fully depressed in the said figures.

Shower curtains are usually made of lightweight flexible cloth and air currents cause their movement at the upper areaofthe tub and at This air flow not only causes the ordinary curtains to move toward and against the bather but enables sprays of water to pass outwardly of the curtain. Wh'en' weights are used on an outwardly extending skirt or fiap in the manner shown in the said patent, practice has established that the unweighted lower margin of the curtain is little or no protection against described, is the provision of a detachable skirt the upward passage of the water spray and the outer weighted skirt area iorms a pocket for water because'the weiahts enable water adhesion ottheouterrkirttothesideotthetub. Inth'e.

present embodlmenhtheinnerskirtareaotme curtain is weighted to prevent movements under the influence oi the water spray and air currents and mrthermore to cause its adherence and waterse'al against the inner area oi the tub. In such case it is wholly unnecessary to weight the outerskirt. 'I'hustheendsandtheskirtot thecurtalnaresealed. Oneendotth'ecurtain may be left in its clamp held position and the opposite end quickly detached by manipulation oitheclampssothatthecurtainmaybemoved endwiss tor the passaae or the bather.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows: v a

A bath curtain holder 'comprisinz a suction cuphavlnaatopandanopenbottomanarm secured to the cup at an intermediate area 0! thearm,oneendoithearmextendinaincurvilinear formation in the direction of the bottom oi the cup and thereby being adapted for en- 10 Basement with a wall area to which the cup is aiilxed, and spring-pressed clamping Jaws carried by the other end of the arm.

BERNARD ROUS. 

